Can You Bet Online In Illinois
Whether you’re trying to place a bet in person or online, the legal gambling age for Illinois residents is 21. Because this is the law written by the state, you should abide by this age even if you are using one of the online offshore sportsbooks we’ve previously recommended. There are a number of retail and online sports betting options available in Illinois, and that number is expected to grow in the coming years. Sports betting was approved as a part of a much larger gambling expansion package, and it was done to bring in more revenue for the state. BetRivers became the first online sportsbook to launch in Illinois on June 18, 2020. For a short time, people in Illinois could register an account online, make a deposit, and immediately start placing bets at BetRivers. Thankfully, it’s easy to bet online for real money by using any of these trusted Illinois sports betting sites. If you’re looking to wager with real money on your favorite local team, or any other team around the country or globe, then you’re in luck.
Illinois has become one of the most pro-gambling states in the country, and following the repeal of the federal law that had prohibited states from legalizing sports betting, lawmakers got to work and began the process that would allow them to present a sports betting bill before the state legislature.
In addition to the status of sports betting in Illinois, we want to provide you with information on the current sports betting laws in the state and where adults who are over the age of 18 can wager at online sportsbooks in the Land of Lincoln.
Top-Rated Online Sportsbooks For 18+ Illinois Bettors
| Sportsbook | Bonus | USA | Rating | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | 50% Up To $250 | 4.7/5 | ||
| Betonline | 50% Up To $1,000 | 4.6/5 | Visit Site | |
| Mybookie | 50% Up To $1,000 | 4.5/5 | Visit Site | |
| Xbet | 100% Up To $500 | 4.4/5 | Visit Site | |
| Bookmaker | 50% Up To $500 | 4.4/5 | Visit Site | |
| SportsBetting | 50% Up To $1,000 | 4.3/5 | Visit Site |
Can you bet on sports at age 18 in Illinois?
Currently, Illinois residents and visitors can wager at domestic sportsbooks or via mobile betting apps. Domestic sports betting were legalized in 2019 and launched in 2020, However, these sports betting avenues in IL are limited to gamblers that are 21 years of age or older. 18+ sports bettors can place a wager with an international betting site because there is no law prohibiting the act as long as it is legally licensed and located offshore, such as the sites found on this page.
Is it legal to bet at 18+ online sportsbooks in Illinois?
No, domestic sports betting options are only available to those that are over 21 years old. It is only legal to bet on sports online at the age of 18 in Illinois if you wager at licensed offshore online sportsbooks operating online. Illinois law does not apply to jurisdictions other than its own, and 18 and over online sportsbooks are not allowed to operate inside state lines at this present time.
Are sports betting sites safe for Illinois residents?
If you choose any of the sports betting sites that we’ve vetted and approved, then there is no doubt that both your personal and financial data is safe and secure. The Internet is a dangerous place and scammers lurk around every corner every single day, which is why we want to provide the sites where you can safely and legally bet on sports if your 18 and up in Illinois.
What changes to federal law have impacted Illinois sports betting?
Illinois lawmakers prepared for the eventual repeal of PASPA by drafting and discussing bills as early as January 2018. Now that the Supreme Court has overturned the federal law, sports betting states are free to legalize sports betting operators within their jurisdiction.
18+ State-Licensed Sportsbooks in Illinois
At this time, there are is only one state-licensed sportsbook located anywhere in the state of Illinois that allows residents and visitors to place wagers on sports, and it is limited to 21+ gamblers. Domestic sports betting is expected to expand, but it has been a slow crawl thus far.
Illinois College and Professional Sports Teams
Illinois is home to numerous college and pro teams that bettors from the state and around the country will immediately recognize at the online sportsbooks. Below you’ll find a complete list of all of the colleges with at least one team competing in NCAA Division I and all of the franchises with teams in a major professional sports league, which are all located in Chicago, Illinois.
NCAA Division I Teams:
- Bradley Bears: Missouri Valley (Peoria)
- Chicago State Cougars: WAC (Chicago)
- DePaul Blue Demons: Big East (Chicago)
- Eastern Illinois Panthers: Ohio Valley (Charleston)
- Illinois Fighting Illini: Big Ten (Urbana-Champaign)
- Illinois State Redbirds: Missouri Valley (Normal)
- Loyola Ramblers: Missouri Valley (Chicago)
- Northern Illinois Huskies: MAC (DeKalb)
- Northwestern Wildcats: Big Ten (Evanston)
- Southern Illinois Salukis: Missouri Valley (Carbondale)
- SIUE Cougars: Ohio Valley (Edwardsville)
- UIC Flames: Horizon (Chicago)
- Western Illinois Leathernecks: Summit (Macomb)
Major Professional Sports Teams:
*All the Illinois pro teams are located in Chicago
- Chicago Bears: NFL
- Chicago Blackhawks: NHL
- Chicago Bulls: NBA
- Chicago Cubs: MLB
- Chicago Fire: MLS
- Chicago Sky: WNBA
- Chicago White Sox: MLB
Legal Minimum Gambling Age in Illinois
The legal minimum gambling age requirement in Illinois is 21 years old to play at the slot machines, table games, sportsbooks, and in poker rooms at land-based riverboat casinos located throughout the state.
Other Forms of Legal 18+ Gambling in Illinois
If you are at least 18 years of age and are located anywhere in Illinois, then you can legally gamble on bingo, lottery, dog and horse racing, and in the form of pari-mutuel wagering.
Additionally, the online sportsbooks we recommend also allow Illinois players to play at their online casinos and poker rooms at age 18 but since the minimum age requirement of Illinois is 21 years old, we recommend following the law of your state, even though there has never been anyone charged with unlawfully gambling online at the age of 18.
Additional Resources
If you or someone you know lives in Illinois and is currently having difficulty or is possibly suffering from problem gambling, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling for immediate help.
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